MERGED: Communion during flu season

[pnewton]

I would do whatever was asked. My faith does not lie in the incidentals.

Maybe we could just up the alcohol content of the wine to something like 50%!!!

 

[BcuzISaidSo]

I would do whatever was asked. My faith does not lie in the incidentals.

Maybe we could just up the alcohol content of the wine to something like 50%!!!

There would still be germs, but with a higher alcohol content we would care less!

 

[Brendan]

I would do whatever was asked. My faith does not lie in the incidentals.

Maybe we could just up the alcohol content of the wine to something like 50%!!!

No can do. There is no natural way to make wine of that high alcohol content, the yeast die out.

What you are describing is a distillation product, such as brandy, which is not valid matter.

 

[MSSheBear]

I would do whatever was asked. My faith does not lie in the incidentals.

Maybe we could just up the alcohol content of the wine to something like 50%!!!

I have received from the chalice for several months and never got sick. I am also usually at the end of the line. I hope we return to normal by the Easter Vigil. I figure that as long as people are coming sick and are sneezing and coughing there isn’t much we can do.

 

[Jsmith17]

Due to the flu epidemic, our bishop has issued an order to all diocesan priests to encourage parishioners to receive communion in the hand while discouraging (but not denying) receiving on the tongue.

diocese-sacramento.org/PDFs/FluGuidelines.pdf

I was quite aware of this announcement last Sunday (it was announced at the beginning of mass) when I attempted to receive on the tongue due to having unclean hands from an (obviously sick) visitor who grasped my hand without my permission during the Our Father.

When I approached the priest during communion and opened my mouth, the priest looked at me and said, “in the hand” and refused to place the host on my tongue, making me chose between either not partaking of communion or exposing myself to illness. I was quite perturbed…

I’m not a very confrontational person, (and in my attempts to speak with this priest I’ve found he isn’t very nice…) What should I do? Email the parish pastor? Bishop? It’s been bugging me for a while now…

 

[Catholic_Wife]

If you’re going to make an issue of this, then go up the “chain of command”. Talk to the pastor first. If he doesn’t at least apologize, or if he doesn’t give you the answer you want, then take it to the next level. Keep in mind that by the time you get to talk to the bishop (if it goes that far), the fly season may be well over and it will be a moot point until next year. If the pastor says “NO Communion on the tongue” until further notice, and someone grabs your hand, you can always remain in the pew and make an Act of Spiritual Communion.

FWIW, I clasp my hands together during the Our Father, and anyone standing next to me would have to literally pry my hands apart to be able to hold my hand. :slapfight: And I don’t shake hands with anyone at Mass - ever - so my hands remain as germ-free as possible in case I’m summoned to act as an EMHC.

 

[Delaine75]

Personally, I don’t see that it’s worth making a big issue out of. Typically, if a priest discourages something at the beginning of Mass, it probably frustrates him to see people coming up and expecting to do it that way regardless. With so much sickness going around, he probably doesn’t want to put his hands anywhere near anyone’s mouth, LOL!

Just a suggestion that may work for you - a friend of mine always carries a little spritz bottle of hand sanitizer and after the Sign of Peace, she discreetly spritzes a bit into her hand and sanitizes her hands. That way her hands are clean to receive the Host.

Again, it’s probably not worth making a big deal out of.

 

[centurionguard]

If you’re going to make an issue of this, then go up the “chain of command”. Talk to the pastor first. If he doesn’t at least apologize, or if he doesn’t give you the answer you want, then take it to the next level. Keep in mind that by the time you get to talk to the bishop (if it goes that far), the fly season may be well over and it will be a moot point until next year. If the pastor says “NO Communion on the tongue” until further notice, and someone grabs your hand, you can always remain in the pew and make an Act of Spiritual Communion.

FWIW, I clasp my hands together during the Our Father, and anyone standing next to me would have to literally pry my hands apart to be able to hold my hand. :slapfight: And I don’t shake hands with anyone at Mass - ever - so my hands remain as germ-free as possible in case I’m summoned to act as an EMHC.

FWIW, I clasp my hands together during the Our Father, and anyone standing next to me would have to literally pry my hands apart to be able to hold my hand. :slapfight: And I don’t shake hands with anyone at Mass - ever - so my hands remain as germ-free as possible in case

In my parish holding hands during the Our Father virtually doesn’t exist nor is it officially encouraged by any visiting priest. I always wonder how this custom gets entrenched in a parish and for what liturgical reasons. I do know of some separate Catholic community prayer groups within the Church that do it and carries its way through with members at Mass. Same goes for the Orans Posture seen in the congregation which belongs to the priest alone. I do the same as you when saying the Our Father but not so much for the same reasons. Nor do I shake hands. I think future liturgist should forbide this gesture in the next GIRM during the Peace of Christ, something of which has gotten far out of hand IMHO. To me it really breaks the symmetry of the Eucharistic Liturgy primary focus centered on the humbleness of Jesus Christ coming down upon the Sacrificial altar for our sake.

Fraternally Yours in Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[clem456]

Due to the flu epidemic, **our bishop has issued an order **to all diocesan priests to encourage parishioners to receive communion in the hand while discouraging (but not denying) receiving on the tongue.

diocese-sacramento.org/PDFs/FluGuidelines.pdf

I was quite aware of this announcement last Sunday (it was announced at the beginning of mass) when I attempted to receive on the tongue due to having unclean hands from an (obviously sick) visitor who grasped my hand without my permission during the Our Father.

When I approached the priest during communion and opened my mouth, the priest looked at me and said, “in the hand” and refused to place the host on my tongue, making me chose between either not partaking of communion or exposing myself to illness. I was quite perturbed…

I’m not a very confrontational person, (and in my attempts to speak with this priest I’ve found he isn’t very nice…) What should I do? Email the parish pastor? Bishop? It’s been bugging me for a while now…

What should you do?.. As the bishop requests.
Is this really an issue that needs to come to the internet?

 

[7armyrugrats]

Can you keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you and use it before communion? At our parish everyone, including the priest, uses hand sanitizer if they will be on the altar for the consecration or helping distribute communion. Having small children I keep it with me in my purse, or my husband will put it in his pocket before we go out. I don’t like carrying a purse so if he’s driving I leave it at home (I don’t need my wallet). It’s not quite as good as washing your hands, but it is so much better than nothing at all.

 

[TimothyH]

What should you do?.. As the bishop requests.
Is this really an issue that needs to come to the internet?

Agreed.

The priest wasn’t trying to deny you communion on the tounge for some deep theological reason or because he was part of the post-conciliar mondernist Church. Be glad that you had an opportunity to recieve, do what the priest tells you, let it go, forget it and move on.

So he isn’t a nice man. Neither am I sometimes. The flu outbreak will be over soon and it will become a non-issue.

Everyone should have gotten the flu shot long ago.

-Tim-

 

[Zekariya]

One cannot get sick by receiving Christ unless one partakes unworthily. Germs on the Eucharist have no power over Christ.

 

[dshix]

Strange that they didn’t also ask everyone to not hold hands at the Our Father, if there’s a flu epidemic.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Strange that they didn’t also ask everyone to not hold hands at the Our Father, if there’s a flu epidemic.

Folks shouldn’t be holding hands, period, during the Our Father. Flu or no flu. If something is not in the GIRM it is not to be done.

 

[dshix]

Folks shouldn’t be holding hands, period, during the Our Father. Flu or no flu. If something is not in the GIRM it is not to be done.

I’m aware of that, and I never hold hands when going to an OF mass anyway, but nonetheless my first comment still stands.

 

[centurionguard]

Strange that they didn’t also ask everyone to not hold hands at the Our Father, if there’s a flu epidemic.

Why should the priest make such a request

No one should be holding hands at the Our Father. Its not a liturgical custom at all.

 

[Cider]

As if touching peoples hands is somehow more sanitary than not actually touching their mouth?

 

[CallMeDad]

No one shakes more hands than politicians, and yet they always seem to survive the election. Myself, I think the hand-shaking/hand-holding apprehension is largely unjustified. Generally speaking, our immune systems are made from stout stuff.

 

[Zekariya]

No one shakes more hands than politicians, and yet they always seem to survive the election. Myself, I think the hand-shaking/hand-holding apprehension is largely unjustified. Generally speaking, our immune systems are made from stout stuff.

And Christ’s miraculous Body will not impart any sickness to man unless he partakes unworthily.

 

[MSSheBear]

I have taken up the habit of carrying hand sanitizer wipes in my bag. I can discreetly sanitize my hands. I will do this during Mass if necessary. Just a thought: how about wearing gloves during the service until right before Holy Communion? This I have seen done. We should not be holding hands during the Our Father or shaking hands during the passing of the peace. Next time perhaps you could clasp you hands together before and during the Our Father.

I doubt the priest realized why you wanted to receive on the tongue. He needs to keep himself healthy too. I wonder what people who cannot receive on the hand or to do. Next time just be better prepared.:tsktsk: